How SB25-003 Changed Selling a Gun in Colorado

On August 1, 2026, Colorado's SB25-003 took effect, and it changed the rules for buying and selling a specific category of firearms. If you own a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine, this law affects you — whether you're buying, selling, or settling an estate.

I'm a licensed FFL holder running Gun Legacy in Parker, Colorado. I walk sellers through this law regularly. Here's what it means in plain English.

What the Law Does

SB25-003 makes it unlawful to manufacture, distribute, transfer, sell, or purchase a "specified semiautomatic firearm" in Colorado unless the buyer holds a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card issued by their county sheriff — and has completed a state-verified firearms safety course.

The key word is buyer. The requirement falls on the person receiving the firearm, and it applies to private sales as well as dealer sales.

Which Guns Are Covered

A "specified semiautomatic firearm" means:

- A semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine. This covers AR-15-pattern and AK-pattern rifles, most modern semiauto shotguns with box magazines, and similar designs. For long guns, the operating system doesn't matter — the only question is whether the magazine detaches.

- A gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine. This includes AR-style pistols and similar handguns.

Bolt-action rifles, lever-actions, pump shotguns, revolvers, and most traditional hunting firearms are not covered. If you already lawfully owned a covered firearm before August 1, 2026, your continued ownership is legal — no registration, no card required. The law only governs new purchases and transfers.

The Eligibility Card Process, Step by Step

If you're buying a covered firearm from another person or a dealer, here's the path:

1. Apply through Colorado's Firearms Safety System. Your application goes to your county sheriff's office.

2. Background check. You'll need a name-based background check from an approved vendor, plus a government photo ID, submitted to the sheriff.

3. Get the card. The sheriff issues an Eligibility Card, valid for five years and recorded in the state system.

4. Take the safety course. Complete an in-person course through a verified instructor and pass the final exam with at least 90%.

5. Buy. The dealer confirms your eligibility in the state system and processes the sale, including the standard background check.

It's a real process — it takes time, money, and planning. That's exactly why private sellers are finding covered firearms harder to move than they used to be.

The Simplest Legal Path: Transfer to a Dealer

Here's the part that matters most if you're selling. The law exempts transfers of covered firearms to a federally licensed dealer (FFL) from the eligibility-card requirement. It also exempts transfers to heirs and beneficiaries upon the owner's death.

What that means in practice: if you bring a covered semiautomatic to me, you don't need a card, and neither does the estate. I receive it as a licensed dealer, handle the compliance on any onward sale, and the buyer's eligibility gets verified at that point through the normal process.

This is also why consignment has become the most practical route for selling these firearms. Listing a covered rifle yourself means finding a buyer who has already completed the card-and-course gauntlet — a much smaller pool. Selling or consigning through an FFL sidesteps that bottleneck entirely on your end.

What Hasn't Changed

A few things worth knowing:

- Private transfers of non-covered firearms still go through an FFL with a CBI background check, just as before.

- Possession of firearms you already owned is unaffected.

- Federal rules (NFA items, interstate sales) are unchanged.

This is general information about Colorado law, not legal advice.

Selling Under the New Rules

If SB25-003 has you unsure how to sell a firearm legally — especially as part of an estate — don't guess. The law is new, the rollout has been confusing, and mistakes carry real consequences.

Contact Gun Legacy for a free consultation — info@gunlegacy.com or gunlegacy.com. I'll tell you whether your firearms are covered, lay out your options, and handle the transfer and sale compliantly from start to finish.